Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-08-10
UNCLE SANS NAILS.

we hEG the TOllOWlng very lHCSrtSG-
ing article in 'Macaulay's' New York
correspondence of the Rochester Dem
ocrat:
But few of those who receive letters
and newspapers have any idea of the
immensely which our postal, system
has reached. / was recently informed
by q member OF the department that
the weight of postal matter sent from
this city daily is not less than $50
tons-which In the days of our fathers
would have loaded q ship. Taking
the entire year at this average the
annual aggregate would be 91,361
tons, one-ffth of which is carried on
the Central Hudson road. The rail
way postal system is development
due to the rapid increase In business
and though it was hardly known
twenty five years ago it is now an in
dispensible feature in the operations
of the day.
The modern mail car is really
travelling postoffice. When the idea
was first introduced the mails were
put up by the local postmasters,
and all required OF the railway man
was to receive and deliver the pouch.
es. Now, however, the car is fitted up
as postoffice and complete system
of distribution is maintained. The
mails are received in bulk and the
clerks distribute while in motion, a
duty which requires great rapidity
and precision. Taking national
view of this system l find it divided
into nine great divisions. all Of which
arc under the supervision of Thomas
E. Nash, general superintendent of the
railway postal service. His office is
In Washington and his salary So, 500,
which he we'll earns, as his duties are
very laborious. He travels incessant-
ly and must be In constant readiness
TO obey the Geographic summons to
any place where difficulties may arise.
He has nine assistant uperintendents
one to each division-and e. Il.
Jackson, one of the number. Another
important official is Chief Clerk John
M. Baker, whose Office is in Syracuse.
One of his duties is to see that every
car is supplied with a crew, and If g.
clerk is taken Ill, his place is filed by
calling IN some "off" man.
1t is estimated that the railway
postal system requires 5000 men,
and rs they average five to q car the
number of postal cars cannot be less
than 8 thousand. AS first class car
costs $4,000 the reader can form
some idea o. the capital required.
There are hundred railroads in this
state on which postal cars are en-
ployed. Each car, as have said, con-
tains g. crew Of five, one of which is
generally g. green hand learning the
business and therefore required to do
the rougher part of the work. Appli-
cations for employment are made
through some influential man-gen-
orally the congressman of the district
and the appointment is limited to
SIX months. The candidate is sub
JecteG TO an examination of powers of
reading, handwriting in every variety,
the test being q batch of addressed
envelopes, and he is expected to read
the address of 100 IN from five to
seven minutes. He is not obliged to
do this, for however dull he may be,
his job is good for six months, the pay
being $50 q month. Another impor-
tant requisite is good bodily health
and especially eyesight. He is set to
work Immediately, but if he does not
give satisfaction he is dropped at the
end OF the term.
II the candidate displays an adap-
tation for the work he is at the close
o his probation, subject to another
examination. The scene is q. minia-
ture postoffice with the usual array
of boxes for making up the mail. A
large number OF envelopes sometimes
cards are used) is handed him end he
is required to place them in the boxes
proper for their destination. This re-
quires not only rapidity of thought
but also a knowledge of locality, and
to become an expert one must have g.
natural gift for geography. One of
these candidates distributed $500
addressed cards in three and one half
hours and 81 per cent. of the whole
lob was correct. The same task has
been done by an expert in less than
two hours, but it was g. severe effort.
1t is required of the candid late that
95'per cent. of this distribution be cor
rect or he is dropped. The necessity
of familiarity with postotfi loeali-
ties is evident from the fact that ev-
cry postal car has LIT piegon-holes
fo7 New York and $50 for Pennsylva-
MIA, together with others in proper
ton. Pennsylvania contains more
postoffices than any other state in
the Union and though most Of them
are OF minor Importance the clerk
must know the best way of reaching
them. These examinations are held
either in this city or in Syracuse, un-
der Chief Examiner Warning, whose
tests are g. complete bar against all
Incompetence.
A very successful member of this
force mentioned to me that for the
purpose of mastering the work he
paid his entire salary the first six
months to an expert for instruction.
He was put on as green man and
found it advantageous to meet this
outlay since he made the more rapid
advance. He also constantly prac.
ticed during off hours the distribution
of envelopes and cards for the same
purpose and found that it assisted his
progress 80 that he now holds q high
position. The pay, however at best